Celebrating and reflecting on our first six months
Celebrating and reflecting on our first six months
Kristina Ribellia
Founder of Western Water Market
August 21, 2020
I could never have imagined we would have grown as fast and as far as we have in our first six months. Especially in the year of 2020.
The idea that is now Western Water Market came to me a year ago, 4th of July weekend on a family vacation at Lake Roosevelt. It was one of the greatest “ahas” of my life. So great, so important — I knew I had to pursue it.
Lake Roosevelt; largest reservoir in Washington (July 2019)
The call to create a more open and efficient water market — especially as a neutral market operator — meant that I had to quit my job and go all in.
So I did.
I built the platform last fall, left my position with Washington Water Trust in December, and hit my deadline to launch in January. I seeded the market with sample listings and started reaching out to my professional network.
There was no going back.
It was terrifying and exhilarating. All of my eggs were (and still are) in one basket.
If this flopped, it felt like my career would too. You see, Western Water Market is defying the status quo; the arcane water market that has persisted. I didn’t know how it would be received and if people would stand behind it.
To my surprise, some of the most well-respected water right professionals in Washington not only believed in the mission to create a more open and efficient market, but were willing to champion it.
They too took a risk and were first to list as our founding members in February.
I may have built the platform, but it was Aspect Consulting, Water Right Solutions, Confluence Law, PLLC, the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership, and the SwiftWater Ranch, LLC Water Bank that truly created the market — the foundation for which it has and will continue to grow from.
Western Water Market’s original founding members
Since February, the Washington market has grown to include the early support of other firms, including Peterson & Marquis Law Office, Cascadia Law Group, and Associated Earth Sciences, Inc.
While I knew we had a need in Washington, I have quickly learned it’s not unique to us.
At six months of operation, I’m excited to share we have water rights for sale and lease in Washington, Idaho, and Montana, and have a growing network of over ten of the West’s top firms serving seven states.
Western Water Market’s August 20, 2020 listings, including water rights for sale and lease, water right buyers, and water right professionals
These water right professionals and firms are not only serving and building the market, they are sharing their ideas and hope for the communities we love and serve.
I recently spoke to an attorney who couldn’t believe firms are paying to join and serve Western Water Market in these early months while people are still learning about us.
He said, “They’re like your angel investors.” I smiled, “Yes, they are angels. They believe in what we’re creating.”
And it’s thanks to them — we’re off to a great start.
Interested in learning more about Western Water Market?
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